Love Your Sister!

Rachel is becoming more and more mobile, even though she hasn't actually committed to a mode of locomotion. Because of this baby on the move, I have had to start helping Hannah become more aware of little toys that are very appropriate for a four-year-old but not for a 7-month-old. Barbie shoes, dress up jewelry, crayons, and Hungry Hungry Hippo marbles have taken on a whole new level of threat when left in the tall shag of the living room area rugs. After having to remove a Polly Pocket sized cellphone from Rachel's mouth I called my oldest daughter to my knee.
"Hannah, do you know what this is?"
"Polly Pocket's cell phone."
"What else could it possibly be?"
"Barbie's cell phone?"
"This looks like death for your sister. She could put in her mouth, choke, and die!"
Now, I will admit this was both sarcastic and alarmist, but sometimes you have to raise the alarm to get your point accross. So, I kid you not, a couple of days later, Hannah and I came home from out and about and when she walked into the living room, she said,
"Mommy, there is a lot of death on the floor. We better get it picked up."
Point made.

Laughing

It never occurred to me that my laugh meant anything more to my children than a cue to laugh too. Yesterday, I got a shot of reality. I was making a Jib Jab card for my sister-in-law and I also made one of Matt and I. The video was so hilarious that I was LMAO. Hannah was watching it with me and she was laughing too. She kept looking at me and not the video. When it was done, she told me she wanted to watch it again. Typical 4 year old. Then she said the think that knocked me on my ass,

"You watch it again, you laugh. I want you to watch it and laugh again!"

She could have cared less about what was on the screen. I was the entertainment of the moment, and her laugh was in reaction to me. It was like that moment in Monsters, Inc. when you realize that the laugh is so much more powerful than the scream. Even more profound for me was how precious it was to her. The lesson: I need to laugh outloud more around my children.

Hannah Says...

"I ate some frosting off my seat. It was hard, but still delicious!"

I lost a tooth!!

I have not been able to make this claim for at least 20 years, but yesterday I lost a tooth. I had my top left wisdom tooth removed, and I have to say it really sucked. It was a stunning example of how primitive dentistry remains after thousands of years. The best part of the whole experience is when Hannah came home, and put her hand up to my cheek.
"Does it hurt, Mommy?"
"Yes it does, Hannah."
"I'm sorry. Can I see your tooth now?"
Feel the love.

Let's get this party started.

I am so intimidated by this process. I have thoughts, and I can articulate them, but writing is a whole other game. Let's hope the future is bright for me.